Stompers (toy)

Stompers were first created in 1980 by A. Eddy Goldfarb and sold by Schaper Toys. These toys were battery-powered vehicles that ran on a single AA battery and featured four-wheel drive. They were driven by a single motor that turned both axles. They were the first battery-powered, electric, true 4WD toys. Later, in the United Kingdom, Corgi Toys marketed identical toys in Corgi labeled packaging called Trekkers but made by Schaper. Genuine Stompers were sold by various companies around the globe and were also made by Schaper. There were similar products manufactured by Soma and LJN (Rough Riders). Both companies were involved in lawsuits by Goldfarb and Schaper. Settlements were made and the companies continued their line of toys. None of the imitators were as popular as the Schaper Stomper line however. As of 2015, Mr. Goldfarb continues to live and work at his design studio in Southern California.

Stompers debuted in 1980. Schaper's 1980 catalog showed five Stomper trucks: the Chevrolet K-10 Scottsdale, Chevrolet Blazer, Dodge Warlock, Ford Bronco, and Jeep Honcho. The Stunt Set and Wild Mountain set playsets were the only other Stompers products in that year's catalog. The earliest Stompers had clips inside the body that attached to the sides of the chassis; they are known as "side-clips." They also came with a set of foam tires. 1981 brought five new Stomper trucks: the Chevrolet LUV, Datsun Li'l Hustler, Jeep Renegade, Subaru BRAT, and Toyota SR5. The Stunt Set and Wild Mountain sets also returned, though different pieces were shown in the 1981 catalog. The short-lived Stomper SSC Super Cycles also debuted in 1981. The trucks were also sold with an additional set of rubber tires so that they could be driven outdoors. The Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Scrambler were the new four-wheel-drive trucks for 1982. Fun x4s ("Exclusively designed from the real street hot-rods!") debuted in 1982, consisting of the AMC (American Motors) SX/4, two Chevrolets (van and 1956 Nomad), Jeep CJ, Subaru hatchback, and Volkswagen Baja Bug. The Work x4s also debuted in 1982; these were Ford C-Series trucks with bucket-lift, cement-mixer, dumper, and wrecker bodies. Four semi-tractors—Freightliner and Kenworth Aerodyne COEs and Mack and Peterbilt conventionals—rounded out the new vehicles. The Official Competition Pull Set was also new for 1982. Badlands, Devil Mountain, and Wild Country Sets replaced the earlier playsets; the SSC line continued largely unchanged.

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